Sunday, August 4, 2013

9 Reasons Why Exercise May Be the Best Medicine

There is no debate, regular exercise is vital for maintaining health and
wellness. Again and again, research confirms that everyone can benefit
from physical activity. Want to live a long, healthy life? Your
chances of doing so are far better if you regularly work your body.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, regular
physical activity has been shown to reduce mortality rates of many
chronic diseases. Additionally, many illnesses and health ailments can
be improved, or even prevented, by engaging in regular physical
activity.

1. May Improve Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms

Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by endless fatigue that is not
satisfied by sleep or rest. The disease is, by definition, very
debilitating and some people suffer from symptoms for years. Most people
do not find relief from pharmaceuticals, and even alternative remedies
fall short. However, as part of a comprehensive approach, Fort Belvoir
Community Hospital recommends exercise therapy for improving fatigue and
secondary symptoms of chronic fatigue synedrome.

2. Puts Insomniacs to Bed

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that exercise
improved insomniac tendencies in persons with major depressive disorder.
Which symptoms? Most of them. Participants in the study reported
improvements in mood and sleep quality and researchers concluded that
exercise therapy was a recommendation-worthy therapy.

3. Supports Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very individual and personal experience; you should
always consult with your healthcare provider before making any drastic
lifestyle changes when you’re pregnant so take this as food for thought.
Research has shown that pregnant women who participate in mild to
moderate exercise have better heart and lung fitness, are less likely to
experience urinary incontinence, have fewer symptoms of depression,
gain less weight, and have fewer incidence of gestational diabetes! [

4. Softens Aging

Diet and a sedentary lifestyle are huge contributors to the steady,
physical deterioration that is often associated with age. Don’t settle
for it! Evidence repeatedly shows that improvement in physical fitness
lessens the risk of age related diseases, including mental diseases like
dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
For a low-impact, easy-to-do routine, many older folks enjoy Tai Chi.
The Tufts University School of Medicine reports that Tai Chi can help
improve rheumatological conditions by enhancing fitness, strength,
balance, and overall physical function. Those are just the physical
effects. Mentally, Tai Chi has been cited a stress reliever, anxiety
reducer, and quality of life improver.

5. Improves Mental Health

One of the largest, recurrent benefits of regular exercise is that it
reduces stress and improves mood. This can be helpful for everyone, but
especially persons with depression for whom pharmaceuticals do not work
or are not preferred.
The Department of Kinesiology at the University of Georgia confirms
that people who maintain a healthy heart and lungs into and through
their middle ages report less incidence of depression.
However, it’s better to start early. Research conducted by the Child
and Adolescent Psychiatry Section at the University of Michigan found
that adolescents who suffer from depression showed significant
improvement after engaging in aerobic exercise.
The Netherlands’ Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience conducted a
clinical trial to examine the effects of exercise on patients with
schizophrenia and discovered that exercise therapy performed at least
twice a week increased cardiovascular fitness and reduced symptoms of
schizophrenia, including depression.

6. Fights Antidepressants’ Libido Depression

The University of Texas at Austin conducted a study involving 47 women
who reported sexual arousal problems caused by antidepressants.
Researchers had the women watch three erotic film clips during which
time they measured genital arousal. Before two of the sessions, the
women exercised. The results? Exercising prior increased genital
arousal and sexual satisfaction.

7. May Help Menopausal Mood Swings

Hormonal changes and mood swings are often most severe during menopause.
The University of Granada’s Faculty of Health Sciences recommends that
menopausal women may benefit from physical exercise, which lessens the
physical and psychological changes associated with menopause.

8. May Improve Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammation and degeneration of the central
nervous system. This will often affect physical activities (like
walking) and cognitive functions like attention and memory. According to
the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of
Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, because exercise combats inflammation and
neurodegeneration, it may be therapy worth investigating for sufferers
of multiple sclerosis.

9. Promotes Positive Recovery

Traumatic brain injuries often include a long and difficult recovery
process. Unfortunately, depression can creep in. As part of an
approach to dealing with the difficulties, Seattle’s Harborview Medical
Center advises that exercise may be an appropriate method to boost the
quality of life for persons who have sustained traumatic brain injuries

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Sure,Life has it's challenges and disappointments...But it contains within it moments that we'd never trade...Always remember...
"Life is not measured by the breaths we take,but by the moments that take our breath away"